Small Kitchens that Still Inspire

A commenter or two said that their kitchens are small and that the dream kitchens didn’t do anything for them.

While it was not my intent for us to take these literally and for us all to go out and emulate the dream kitchens (they were meant to inspire in terms of style, accessories, architectural elements, colors, etc.), I did take note of their message.

So, I started searching for smaller kitchens that would still meet our level of style, but also limitations in terms of space. Needless to say, there were not as many. Some of the “dream” kitchens I had pulled from cabinet manufacturers websites, where they had large showrooms with mock kitchens that literally had everything and the kitchen sink!

House Beautiful had an article about small kitchens, but some of the kitchens that they considered “small”, really were not small! But I did find some that were gorgeous with some ideas that are unique.

Some ideas to maximize space? Use an electric cooktop to serve as additional counter space. With such a small space, try to use special touches, like drawer pulls.

Note on the lower left how a bathroom hand towel holder was used! Unexpected and rich looking with the brass finish! I love it!

Hard to notice, but this tee-tiny kitchen has mirrored cabinet doors to bounce light and give the illusion of space. Even the door panels are mirrored.

A mirrored back splash to give the illusion of more space as does the glass front cabinets with glass shelves. I can’t imagine the amount of Windex needed though to keep it clean 😉

With open shelving, I think it’s pretty important – no, scratch that – imperative to have your glassware and dishware cohesive. This is not the place to store mismatched mugs, etc. I have always bought white dishes for this very reason. If you open up any cabinet of mine, it looks good! Macy’s has awesome sales on dinnerware too.

Using monochromatic colors are very important.

Even in awkward spaces, using the same color really helps. Probably more so in a smaller kitchen, details are important.

Here’s one with color…

and another..

A TINY space but filled with details!

My brother lives in NYC and one idea that is used frequently there to save space is to buy smaller appliances:

Here’s a 24″ Viking range! Most appliances, even fridges come in smaller sizes, though they may have to be special ordered. The bonus? A smaller price tag!

Open shelves on the top is highly recommended by designers. This is where it would be a good idea to buy all white or cream (or some pop of color) dishes pronto!

My favorites here?

If possible, use higher end finishes

Mirrored cabinets (instead of glass) to bounce light

If you opt for glass doors, have glass shelves and cabinet lighting

Keep the cabinetry simple and monochromatic

I try to look at all the pictures, whether big kitchens or small, and see if there are details that are interesting or unique that I can pull from. I am working on a few posts that I think will be interesting: some very easy DIYs (one that I came up with that I haven’t seen before!) and making over the kitchen on every budget.

I hope these helped in some way and everyone else is adjusting to daylight savings time better than I am!!

Thank you for this informative post. While I do not have the large kitchen situation I find I can adapt easily. The house we moved into nearly 5 years ago had a relatively new kitchen with “golden oak” finish solid wood cupboards. To tear out these would have been very wasteful and expensive. With a golden oak floor I often felt I was walking into a golden oak sea which affected my enthusiasm for cooking and baking. Long story short: About 14 months ago I tackled the kitchen – I sanded, primed and painted for nearly 2 weeks and now have a creamy white kitchen, in size somewhat between your absolute dream kitchens and the kitchens in today’s blog. The lighter color palette (with faux aluminum brushed metal tiles as the back splash) provides a bright and inviting environment to rediscover my joy of cooking and baking. The project is not quite finished… a new counter, complete with prep sink, to fit into one corner of the kitchen previously underutilized and a “floating” breakfast bar are currently under construction to provide a little extra space. Small kitchen, large kitchen – if you like to create in the culinary world you can make any space adapt and meet your needs and your budget.

My first kitchen was in a closet passway from bedroom to llivingroom. It had a combination refrigerator, two burner stove and sink all in one. But when you are newly married and in love it didn’t really matter. Loved your kitchen ideas for small kitchens. My kitchen only had room for one person and a tiny cabinet big enough for a couple of dishes and a pot or two. Wish I had a picture to show you, you wouldn’t have believed it.
Joy

Nice post. I recently removed a vunch of wall paper that was very dated, country blue with tiny maroon dots, plus some tile that had a matte finish, and painted the place. It looks SOOO much better now, not that that is really critical in whether or not a kitchen functions well or now.

For the record, there may be a spot in the world for tile that has a matte finish, but a kitchen is not the right spot. It was an aboslute nightmare to get it clean and keep it clean. Shiny finish works much better.

I will just say that I have lived in a place where there was mirrored back splash, and in spite of the fact that it might give you more “spacious” look, the actual maintenance of such an installation can become a nighmare. Especially in the spot it was in that kitchen, behind the stove. Of course, if you don’t care whether your mirrors are covered with little splitches and splotches, it’s no problem. But getting that mirror clean of grease and shiny — well, if you have a housekeeper I suppose it would not be so hard.

Wonderful post on space-challenged kitchens, although please note that I have very much enjoyed your more aspirational posts which feature more spacious installations, too! Love mirrored backsplashes in kitchens of all sizes because, as you point out, they do bounce light around the room. In a small space, of course, they visually expand the envelope. I often use antique mirrored glass, which is a bit of splurge, but if you are only doing a short run of countertop, it could be well worth it. It’s all about the details–maybe even more so when you’re working with a tight space. Thanks for the great post!

Oohhh! Antiqued glass – that sounds divine!! In small spaces, using a few higher priced items hopefully could be an option, where in a large kitchen using the same products would be too expensive. You are so right about the details!

This is a nice selection of small kitchens. I love the personalities differences among the options here. I really love that little kitchenette, tucked in the rear of the room, in the 2nd photo down. All are nice. Good job, Kearney.

I have found my design soul-mate! The first kitchen you show is one I prevously saw, have printed off and around which I have designed an entire home (for when I am ‘too old’ for a full-sized home and need to downsize). And I am a serious cook, really I am……….I love that kitchen. It is gorgeous and functional! And if I am ever forced to downsize (I do love my current kitchen and home), this is what I want. Your blog is beautiful and helpful. I’ve lived with many different kitchens–one was 140 years old with a make-do kitchen (as an example: had a two man saw hung on the wall from which hung pots and pans–that’s “make-do”!) and I still managed to function pretty well, canning garden vegetables and feeding 3 kids and a husband–but I’ve got to admit, I love the more ‘modern’ appliances! Size really doesn’t matter. Function surely does! You have pointed out some fantastic ideas.
Beauty, detail, style all help make the cooking fun, too. Thank you for this!

Love love love! My apartment kitchen is so tiny but I do see some tricks I can apply (can’t do major modification). I also see some ideas I might want to apply to my boyfriend’s house…maybe some more mirrors…

Smallest kitchen I ever had was a in a tiny one bedroom apartment I shared with the lovely young woman that eventually gave me beautiful babies. She’s not in my life anymore, but your post reminded me of us squeezed in that kitchen close together making pizza. I know it wasn’t the point of your post, but thanks for the memory… 😉

Stunning kitchens! I could actually move to a smaller house just to have one! funnily enough I was watching a re-run of “the Wedding Date” yesterday – Debra Messing movie. And she had a stunning small kitchen in her apartment, and I remember thinking to myself that I would be very, very happy with it 🙂

I have a house that I think the same thing! It’s SO tiny, but completely charming! I haven’t seen that movie, but while researching this post, I realized how I have too much and size really doesn’t matter 😉 it’s more the details!

I have moved frequently and am almost always disappointed with the small kitchens. Each one had it’s own drawbacks but I’ve learned how to maximize the spaces and sometimes overcome them with clever use of the space. An article like this contains great hints!

love the idea of bathroom hand towel hardware for the kitchen tea towels because besides the oven handle and little white plastic hooks—-i never thought of another option. now if i could just prevent my husband and kids from using the FRESH dish towels to wipe their muddy shoes,garage items,school glue/glitter, and the spill on my already dirty floor….or at least put in the laundry after. thanks!

Nice post and I like the ones that you selected. Somewhat surprising you had difficulty finding smalll kitchens as I run into them often with listings or when viewing properties with clients. One point on the open shelves – they are a nice feature if utiltized properly. Sometimes it makes the kitchen look a bit cluttery.

Great ideas for small kitchens. I like the towel holder – why are kitchen ones always so utilarian? We want beautiful as well. Hanging saucepans are a good idea too – they take so much space in a cupboard – but you need ‘nice’ looking saucepans for it to work well.

Love this. I owned a house in my last city that had a VERY small kitchen. I remodeled it when I moved in (I think I had to buy all of 9 cabinet pieces!) that’s how small it was. It was affordable to remodel though, and I made use of every inch of space. It was ridiculously functional…

Thanks for clicking over — it always brings me over to your blog! I LOVE your point of view about design. I’m not much of a chef so the kitchen to me has always been a Martha Stewart moment. After seeing your blog photos, its now become a Kearney-moment 🙂

This is such a great post. Living in NYC and being and architect, I’m always faced with these difficult situations for clients. You are spot on in your observations of what helps small and awkward spaces read cohesively!

Reblogged this on Amy Arey, Realtor Real Estate Blog and commented:
Great ideas to make your smaller kitchen “pop” instead of become the “eye sore” when your home is on the market, or getting ready to be listed!

Wow, those are gorgeous! I live in a tiny apartment (well, for the 7 of us at least), and trying to squeeze five kids around our Ikea table makes me dream of the day when I’ll have a space more suited to the size of my family. Those kitchens, though, I must say, are inspiring. I think if I had a house with a kitchen the size of my apartment’s, I’d be fine because I could do a lot with it. It’s the fact that I’m stuck with what’s here that makes it terrible. It’s small and badly done. Thanks for stopping by my blog, btw!

Love you kitchen ideas. I am presently redoing my kitchen that hasn’t been touched in 20 years. I think a person should have to live in and use a space for awhile before you try to design it. There are so many things that I would do differently now after having used it for the past 20 years. I have changed some of the layout of my kitchen as I redo it but boy would I love to have a modular kitchen option. I love to move furniture around to try to things. It’s a little harder to do that in a kitchen with all the plumbing and electrical getting in the way! 🙂

I enjoyed this post! I can relate to aging a small kitchen. Here in Italy, everything is smaller! Imagine a rectangle room with one wall lined up with, frig, cabinets, stove, sink. I I have no idea what to do with the other side. I think I’ll have to post my before and after’s since reading your inspirational post! Thank you!

Thank you so much! That is very kind! My brother has lived in NYC and London his entire adult life, so I very much appreciate a small kitchen and I love the clever solutions that are invented because of necessity! They are more fascinating and creative than large kitchens!

Nice ideas! 🙂 We will soon renovate our small kitchen (maybe in the next few months), we don’t have a lot of space but it doesn’t mean it can’t be pretty and functional. Thank you for the ideas! FYI … Just went through my magazines and in the House and Home (September 2011 issue) they featured small spaces from designer Brad Ford and Sarah Callanan (liked her small kitchen too).

While I have a teeny tiny kitchen now with only one workable counter, it works because it’s been designed well and not any better than my previous 15 x 25 foot kitchen! And you live with what you have and get used to it! Regards, Roz

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My name is Kearney and, while I adore my dogs and children, I just love architectural details and the symmetry of design. Adding architectural interest does not need to be difficult and the results can be simply stunning!

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